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COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee Tech misfired on its first seven
3-point attempts Saturday night, but once they found the range the
Golden Eagles were deadly, making eight of their next nine attempts
and finishing the game going 13-for-24.

By scorching the nets from long range, coach Jim Davis’
team was able to claim a 73-51 victory over Austin Peay in Eblen
Center, allowing the Golden Eagles to gain some ground in the East
Division of the Ohio Valley Conference women’s basketball
race.

Tech improved to 11-9 overall and 5-2 within the league, pulling
to within one game of leader Belmont and tied for second with
Eastern Kentucky. Austin Peay, playing in the West Division, fell
to 5-14 overall and 0-7 in the OVC.

Seniors Kellie Cook and Jala Harris were the snipers who lit the
fuse Saturday. Cook was 5-for-6 in the first half and finished the
game 7-for-9 for a game-high 23 points. She also tied for the team
lead with six rebounds as the Golden Eagles owned a 36-24 advantage
on the boards.

Meghan Bussabarger topped APSU with a double-double of 16 points
and 10 rebounds, while Leslie Martinez had a solid all-around game,
finishing with 13 points, six rebounds and five assists.

A bomb from the corner by Cook made it a 10-5 Tech lead early,
and the Golden Eagles took their margin up to 13 points,
21-8, as Cook hit three more. Cook was 5-for-6 from the distance in
the first half and went to the break with 15 points.

But Austin Peay fought back with a couple of 3-pointers, one by
Nicole Olszewski and one from Martinez, and the Lady Govs were back
within five points, 21-16, with 6:02 to play in the half.

APSU got within four, 26-22, with 2:23 left on a layup by Jenifer
Nwokocha, and again with 36 second left when a layup by Martinez
made it 30-26. Henderson’s 3-pointer from the corner with
three seconds to play too it to halftime with a seven-point
difference.

Martinez scored the first two baskets of the second half, and
following two free throws from Nwochoka, the Lady Govs were within
one point, 33-32, with 15:42 to play. APSU got within one two more
times, and each time the Golden Eagles had an answer, twice from
Molly Heady and once from T’Keyah Williams.

Cook knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers and Harris added
another, and the lead suddenly was back to a dozen, 48-36, with
10:11 remaining.

Tech slowly added to its lead over the next six minutes,
eventually making it a 20-point lead with 2:06 to play. The final
22-point edge was the largest lead of the game.

Tech finished the game hitting 53.2 percent from the floor
(25-for-47) and 54.2 percent from outside the arc. Austin Peay was
19-for-55 for 34.5 percent overall, and went 3-for-21 from long
range for 14.3 percent. Both teams were 10-for-12 at the free throw
line.

Tech hosts Murray State Monday night in Eblen Center, with
tipoff at 7 p.m. For tickets, visit or call the Athletics Ticket
Office in Eblen Center at (931) 372-3940.